Pomona's Summer Scholars Program Helps High School Students Get on Track for College

Pomona's Summer Scholars Enrichment Program program is underway for its fourth year with the goal of helping promising students get on track for college. Participants come from socioeconomic and ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented at schools such as Pomona. Typically, they will be the first in their family to attend college.

Some 89 high school students are enrolled in the month-long program that began in late June. Many participants attend for three consecutive summers, commuting to campus each weekday during their first year, then living on campus in the residence halls during their second and third summers.

In small classes and discussion groups, students delve into everything from solving logic problems to SAT preparation to mock interviews with college admissions officers. The primary focus is on math and writing, but students also can explore electives in subjects such as music, theatre and photography. Pomona professors and Pomona students, serving as teaching assistants, work with the scholars in daily tutorial sessions.

Last year, the first group of students completed the three-year program, and many are heading off this fall to colleges such as UCLA, UC Berkeley and Loyola Marymount University. Several will be attending Pomona College.